The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has signed a ten-year, £45 million contract, with Steria to provide ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and telephony services.

As part of the contract Steria will provide the IPCC with a range of ICT and business services. The ICT will support flexible working and improve the access to information through new case and integrated information management systems.

The IPCC is a non-departmental public body, funded by the Home Office, responsible for overseeing the complaints system for police forces in England and Wales. It also investigates serious complaints against HM Revenue and Customs the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the UK Border Agency staff exercising police-like powers.

The contract with Steria contributes to the IPCC's wider change programme. It involves a restructure and is enabling the IPCC to build flexibility and efficiency to meet future challenges against limited resources.

IPCC Chief Executive Jane Furniss says, "The new contract with Steria provides us with modern ICT and critical business systems. These are crucial to the ongoing restructuring and development of the organisation and will underpin the work being done to provide greater frontline resources. In future as we develop and respond to new challenges the ICT infrastructure will give us the ability to provide the public with a more transparent and accessible complaints system."